Want to open internally-linked pdf files in separate browser windo

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Guest

Hi, I posted this on Adobe's web site forums and haven't got any response.
Can anyone here help?

Documents are available on our department's web site for viewing as .pdf
files. Many have large appended maps that are stored in separate .pdf files
linked by bookmarks to the main document.

The bookmarks are variably expanded or collapsed. In some cases several
levels of bookmarks may have to be opened to access an externally-linked map.

When such a map is opened, it is opened in the same window as the main
document. When the "back" button is hit on the browser to return to the main
document, the bookmarks in the main document are reset (e.g. collapsed) to
whatever they were when the document was first opened. This means the user
may then have to re-expand several levels of bookmarks to click on a
subsequent map.

To avoid this problem we would like to have external .pdf files open in a
new browser window. I unticked the "Open cross-document links in same window"
box under general preferences within Acrobat Reader 7 but this did not help
the situation. I have tried this with Netscape 8 and IE 6.

Viewing the document in Acrobat Reader outside the browser does not work
because the links to the external .pdf map files don't work.

If anyone knows how to get this to work please let me know. Otherwise, is
there any way to make the browser "remember" the last way a user has
positioned the bookmarks rather than resetting them to the default.

Thanks
 
Hi Cindy,

I haven't used distiller for a long time so I am not sure how Adobe handles
links (<a>) internally.
The syntax to open a link in a new window is target="_blank" ie
<a href=http://myserver/map.pdf target="_blank">MAP</a>

Regards.
 
In CindyS had this to say:

My reply is at the bottom of your sent message:
Hi, I posted this on Adobe's web site forums and haven't got any response.
Can anyone here help?

Documents are available on our department's web site for viewing as .pdf
files. Many have large appended maps that are stored in separate .pdf
files
linked by bookmarks to the main document.

The bookmarks are variably expanded or collapsed. In some cases several
levels of bookmarks may have to be opened to access an externally-linked
map.

When such a map is opened, it is opened in the same window as the main
document. When the "back" button is hit on the browser to return to the
main
document, the bookmarks in the main document are reset (e.g. collapsed) to
whatever they were when the document was first opened. This means the user
may then have to re-expand several levels of bookmarks to click on a
subsequent map.

To avoid this problem we would like to have external .pdf files open in a
new browser window. I unticked the "Open cross-document links in same
window"
box under general preferences within Acrobat Reader 7 but this did not
help
the situation. I have tried this with Netscape 8 and IE 6.

Viewing the document in Acrobat Reader outside the browser does not work
because the links to the external .pdf map files don't work.

If anyone knows how to get this to work please let me know. Otherwise, is
there any way to make the browser "remember" the last way a user has
positioned the bookmarks rather than resetting them to the default.

Thanks
Click to expand...

Not that I know of... BUT...

I don't have IE6 installed any more... If you have IE7 you can just right
click > open in new window or open in new tab...

This requires that you not be using the menu to access it though - it has to
be the sidepanel pane. When it is up in the menu you get the OS choices, in
the sidepanel you get the choices from inside the browser. Thus you get open
in new window, etc etc...

--
Galen - MS MVP - Windows (Shell/User & IE)
http://dts-l.org/ http://kgiii.info/

"Chance has put in our way a most singular and whimsical problem, and its
solution is its own
reward." - Sherlock Holmes
 
Hi Rob, I'm not sure what you mean as I am just viewing pdf files (created by
a third party) over the web.
 
Hi Galen,

This doesn't apply since the files are being viewed inside Acrobat Reader.
When I right click on a bookmark all I get is "open bookmark".
 
Hi Cindy,

Thats the problem, the author of the PDF files has to change the internal
links in the PDF doc.

There is a setting on the Advanced tab of Internet Options ("Reuse windows
when launching shortcuts").... perhaps unchecking it may force it to open in
a new window.

Regards.
 
In CindyS had this to say:

My reply is at the bottom of your sent message:
Hi Galen,

This doesn't apply since the files are being viewed inside Acrobat Reader.
When I right click on a bookmark all I get is "open bookmark".
Click to expand...

Sorry for the delay in responding to you - it's been a long holiday weekend.

I don't think you can do what you're asking without altering the code in the
PDF itself and I'm not even sure that you can do that. One thing to note is
that Adobe /might/ obey the convention which is to hold CTRL key down and,
when clicking on a link, it should open in a new browser instance. If it
doesn't then I'm not really too sure what to tell you. My recommendation
would be what you've already done and that is to approach the folks over at
Adobe.

--
Galen - MS MVP - Windows (Shell/User & IE)
http://dts-l.org/ http://kgiii.info/

"Chance has put in our way a most singular and whimsical problem, and its
solution is its own
reward." - Sherlock Holmes
 
Thanks Rob,

Unticking that box didn't work but we will pass your first suggestion along
to our scanning contractor for our next phase of scanning. We may be able to
change the code on the files we already have.
 
Thanks, Galen

I tried the control key and it didn't work but I am going to follow up Rob's
first suggestion. You guys have been a lot more help than anyone over at
Adobe.
 
....
If anyone knows how to get this to work please let me know. Otherwise, is
there any way to make the browser "remember" the last way a user has
positioned the bookmarks rather than resetting them to the default.
Click to expand...


Test to see what cloning the IE window would do for you. E.g. press Ctrl-N.
E.g. before clicking on a link clone the current page if necessary;
cloning opens the clone so use the link in the clone;
when you're done instead of pressing Back, etc. just close the clone;
then you would be back at your checkpoint with all its expanding, positioning,
highlighting, etc. intact.

Also, note that one thing that is often the most reliable method for maintaining
where a link is opened is to drag it there. Can PDF links be dragged too?

Finally, as a more invasive solution, be aware that Jim Byrd used to point out
that deleting the DDE Topic value for the HTTP FileType (paraphrased)
seems to cause all "left-clicked" links to open in new windows.
In fact, what happens when the Topic value is deleted is that it changes
Thanks
Click to expand...


HTH

Robert Aldwinckle
---
 
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